Houston Nurse Anesthetists Celebrate National CRNA Week

Houston’s contribution to National CRNA Week just keeps getting bigger and better every year. Nearly 150 CRNAs and student anesthetists gathered to celebrate their profession at Cadillac Bar on January 26, 2016. CRNAs from across the Greater Houston area were there representing every major institution in the city.

Attendance at Houston’s event has increased steadily each year, creating even higher interest among corporate sponsors. The Medicine Company and Greater Houston Anesthesiology were the two Platinum Sponsors this year, achieving this designation through their very generous support. Codonics, Mylan, MetroWest Anesthesia Care, NorthStar Anesthesia, Terumo and Texas Children’s Hospital were also generous sponsors. Additionally, the nurse anesthesia programs at Baylor College of Medicine and The University of Texas had representatives, as well as a display from Doctors Without Borders.

Keynote speaker Garry Brydges, CRNA, DNP, spoke to the attendees about national issues facing nurse anesthetists. As a member of the AANA Board of Directors representing Region 7, Brydges spoke to an attentive and appreciative crowd. SRNA volunteers from Baylor and UT were on hand to sign people in as they entered and to take photographs during the evening. A large buffet featuring a variety of Mexican specialties and frozen margaritas were available to all in attendance. The evening was topped off with a drawing for a $150 gift card to one of Houston’s finest restaurants.

“It takes money and a small army of volunteers to put an event like this together,” said Gregg Gebetsberger, CRNA, the event organizer. “These companies recognize the importance of CRNAs to their business, and many of them come back to show their support year after year. I am grateful to our sponsors, the volunteers, Sam and Andrea at TANA who are critical to this process and my partner Anthony Villa. Without help from all of these people the Houston Celebration of National CRNA Week wouldn’t happen.”